Transaction Automation And Archival System Using Electronic Contract Disclosure Units

• US 20120117467A1
• Filed: 10/14/2011
• Published: 05/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Reynolds and Reynolds Company
• Original Assignee: Reynolds and Reynolds Holdings Incorporated
• Inventors: Maloney, William C., Singleton, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,547,356 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/273
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3825 Use of electronic signatures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/18 Legal services

Abstract

A transaction automation and archival system is provided for controlling, real-time logging, and archiving complex commercial transactions such as the purchase and financing of an automobile. An electronic contract disclosure unit or ECDU includes a digitizing display that includes a video display for imaging to participants the various documents involved in the transaction and a digitizer for allowing participants to sign, indicate choices, and otherwise interact directly on documents and images presented on the display. A computer controls the progress of the transaction, controlling, for example, the order of presentation of documents to a vehicle purchaser, receiving signatures on the displayed documents, offering choices of various packages to the purchaser, and insuring that the transaction is carried out properly. The transaction is logged for future review which may include a video record. One or more fingerprint readers allow participants to select between options while simultaneously verifying the identity of the individual making the selection.

Claims

1. An electronic contract disclosure unit (ECDU) for controlling a commercial transaction, said ECDU comprising:

a computer;

a digitizing display coupled to said computer and including a video display for presenting documents and information and a digitizer for detecting written input from a user;

a first stylus for user interaction with said digitizer in response to documents and information presented on said display;

said computer being programmed to cause images of documents associated with the commercial transaction to be imaged on said display and to receive responsive inputs from a user via said first stylus and said digitizer; and

a first biometric reader associated with said digitizing display and coupled to said computer, said first biometric reader for allowing selection of a first option in response to information presented on said display while simultaneously verifying the identity of the individual making the selection.

2. An ECDU as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising a second biometric reader associated with said digitizing display and coupled to said computer, said second biometric reader for allowing selection of a second option in response to information presented on said display while simultaneously verifying the identity of the individual making the selection.

3. An ECDU as claimed in claim 1 wherein interaction with the digitizer includes applying a signature on the image of a document presented on said display using said first stylus.

4. An ECDU as claimed in claim 1 and wherein interaction with the digitizer includes selecting among options presented on the display by tapping designated images on said display using said first stylus.

5. An ECDU as claimed in claim 1 and wherein said computer is programmed to control the order in which images of documents associated with the transaction are imaged on said display.

6. An ECDU as claimed in claim 5 and wherein said computer is programmed to insure that each document associated with the transaction is properly responded to before subsequent documents are imaged.

7. An ECDU as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising audio speakers associated with said ECDU and connected to said computer, said computer being programmed selectively to recite verbally the contents of a document imaged on said display.

8. An ECDU as claimed in claim 7 and wherein said computer is programmed selectively to recite verbally the contents of a document imaged on said display in two or more languages.

9. An ECDU as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising a microphone associated with said ECDU and connected to said computer, said computer being programmed to record voices during the transaction.

10. An ECDU as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising a camera associated with said ECDU and connected to said computer, said computer being programmed to record images during the transaction.

11. An ECDU as claimed in claim 10 and wherein said camera is a video camera and wherein said computer is programmed to record video images during the transaction.

12. An ECDU as claimed in claim 10 and wherein said camera is mounted on a swing arm for selectively positioning said camera in a first position for imaging a document and a second position for imaging participants in the transaction.

13. An ECDU as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising a second stylus for user interaction with said digitizer in response to documents and information presented on said display, said computer being programmed to determine which stylus is used for the user interaction.

14. An ECDU as claimed in claim 13 and wherein said computer is programmed to assign allowed and disallowed user inputs to said first stylus and allowed and disallowed inputs to said second stylus.

15. An ECDU as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the documents associated with the transaction include legally required disclosures.

16. An ECDU as claimed in claim 1 and wherein said computer is connected to a network and is programmed to transmit information from the transaction to remote users over said network.

17. An ECDU as claimed in claim 16 and wherein the remote users include financing institutions and the information transmitted to the remote users includes credit information.

18. An ECDU as claimed in claim 1 and wherein said first biometric sensor comprises a fingerprint reader.

19. An automated system for controlling a commercial transaction requiring the presentation of documents and information to one user and the acknowledgement and execution of documents by another user, said system comprising:

a digitizing display including a video display on which documents can be imaged and a digitizer for detecting the motion of an associated stylus on said display;

a computer operatively coupled to said digitizing display;

software in said computer for imaging documents associated with the commercial transaction in a predetermined order on said video display and receiving and interpreting responsive motion of said stylus on said display; and

audio speakers associated with said display and connected to said computer, said software being capable of reciting verbally the contents of a document imaged on said display.

20. The automated system of claim 19 and wherein said software is further capable of reciting verbally the contents of a document imaged on said display in two or more languages.

21. The automated system of claim 19 and further comprising at least a first and a second stylus and wherein said system is capable of distinguishing between motions of said first stylus and motions of said second stylus on said digitizer.